The northern section of Douglas Promenade will be resurfaced this month as a temporary measure to improve the state of the road.
 
Work is programmed to start on Friday 18 November and will be carried out in two phases, from Broadway to the Palace Hotel and from the Palace Hotel to Summerhill junction.
 
The Department of Infrastructure will keep the road open throughout the scheme, which is scheduled for completion on Sunday 4 December.
 
A contraflow system will be in place to maintain traffic movement and to minimise any potential disruption. It will be necessary to suspend parking on both sides of the road over the full length of each section of Promenade being resurfaced.
 
Infrastructure Minister Ray Harmer MHK said: ‘The northern end of the Promenade is clearly in an unacceptable condition and I have requested that resurfacing takes place to make the road smoother and safer. It should be recognised that this is very much a short-term fix until the Department can progress a scheme for the full reconstruction of the Promenade.’
 
He added: ‘Our highway engineers have come up with an approach that avoids the need for a full road closure of what is a busy route. The contraflow system is designed to maintain the flow of traffic and work will be completed within a two-week window to minimise the impact on residents, businesses, road users and bus services.’
 
Parking will be suspended from 12 noon on Friday 18 November for the duration of phase one of the scheme between Broadway and the Palace Hotel. The Department is urging people to ensure that vehicles are removed from the area in advance of this deadline.
 
The traffic management plan will be implemented after the peak evening commute that day and work will start on Saturday 19 November. This will involve planing out the existing failed road surface and laying a new asphalt concrete surface. The resurfacing will be to the driving lane only, approximately three metres either side of the tram tracks.
 
The contraflow system will be clearly marked by traffic cones and motorists are urged to adhere to all signage and instructions. Vehicle access to and from properties on the landward side of the road will be into the contraflow, so drivers will have to travel outbound and turn at Summerhill if they are heading towards the town centre.
 
The traffic management plan will be switched from phase one to phase two at 12 noon on Friday 25 November. At this time parking will be re-established from the Broadway junction to the Palace Hotel and suspended on the section of Promenade from the Palace Hotel to Summerhill.
 
Pedestrians will be able to access the Promenade during the work and vehicular access to properties, car parks and side streets will be maintained wherever possible. The Department has written to residents and businesses to inform them of the plans and proposed timetable.
 
Minister Harmer said: ‘The resurfacing work will be funded by the Department at a cost of about ?40,000 and will give motorists much-needed respite from the poor conditions being experienced at the moment. The full reconstruction of the Promenade remains a priority and I am working with the Department’s Members and officers to progress a scheme at the earliest opportunity.’
 
Further information about the resurfacing work is available on the Current and Recent Projects page of the Department of Infrastructure website.